The way we feel physically has much to do with how we feel otherwise. Ask anyone struggling with chronic illnesses, or constant pain - it effects everything. When we feel exhausted, painful, hungry, or dehydrated we feel mentally wearied and emotionally unstable as well. It makes us susceptible to being easily overwhelmed by smaller stresses and worries, and less likely to manage larger stresses well.
We need to do what we can to get our bodies in the condition to be able think, feel and properly use all our resources.
Our bodies are weak. They were created that way, God knows it. Our bodies and physical energy are not unlimited resources. Our physical drive has boundaries, our energy has an empty mark.
Weakness of our bodies is the reason that Christ has to come to start with ..right? The law was powerless to redeem us when it depended on strict behavior of our physical bodies. Christ's body had to replace ours when it comes to the redeeming ..our bodies were just to weak to do the job.
Colossians 1:21-22 "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation"
We should not expect that we can go and go and go, without taking care of this vessel of God's work. It just was not made to do that :)
We were made, however to house the Spirit. The Spirit is there to give us what we need to accomplish God's will, which includes energy that comes from God. He also created our bodies to produce its own energy and maintain itself if properly cared for.
Some ways that we need care for these vessels we are using for now ...
* Rest! ..more on this this week, it is way underrated!
* Eating the right foods ..some foods are better than others at producing healthy energy
* Water, water ..then more water.
* Exercise..its a natural energy booster, and helps to keep our bodies in top working order
* Wearing clothes that fit and flatter us in modest ways
* Regular check-ups ...pap smears, mammograms ..I know, no fun ..but very necessary!
We should not underestimate the affect that our bodies have on our ability to manage our other resources well. Work this week to note those things that you can do to get your body in better condition to be used by the Spirit.
Pondering Point: What are some ways that your physical status affects your stress levels or the way you mange your resources?
Verse of the Week: "Do you not know that you are a temple of the Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own." I Cor 6:19
As I mentioned in class, I sometimes feel as if I'm a slave to the physical. If I'm tired, hungry, feeling sick or in pain...then my mood is affected, and I find that I am just not very Christ-like. Which is ironic, considering that being like Christ by definition means a willingness to joyfully participate in suffering. I have been really asking God to re-orient my mind to see my own limitations and pain as opportunities to bring Him glory. And I've realized that I need to discipline myself more. As a healthy, middle class American, I live in such physical comfort that I really feel it when I'm deprived in any way. And that sensitivity kind of needs to go:).
ReplyDeleteThat said, I do believe that it is being irresponsible with my precious resources when I do not take care of my body as best I can. When I choose not to get enough sleep, or not exercise, or not eat right, I am misusing the resources that God gave me. I have enough opportunity to be tired, hungry, and sick when it is OUT of my control...I don't need to choose to be those things through my own irresponsibility:).
I realize that I use my physical state as an excuse alot. I use my hormones, my medication, my tiredness ..as excuses for not acting the way I should. I am constantly looking for "reasons" I dont feel well. That has changed alot for me ..just noting WHY am I feeling this way? Alot of times it is as simple as needing to eat or needing to take a 20 minute nap.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we arent used to being deprived ..we have it pretty easy in our country and most of us, who are reading this on the internet right now, have what we need to be physically taken care of sufficiently. If we can read comments on the internet, then we can probably find the time, resources to feed our bodies and rest them properly :)